What Causes Growths in the Ear?

Growths inside the ear may result from poor ear hygiene, frequent ear picking, or “excess internal heat” (a traditional Chinese medicine concept associated with systemic inflammation or imbalance).

1. Poor Ear Hygiene

If the ear canal is not cleaned regularly, excessive cerumen (earwax) can accumulate and harden, forming a compact, foreign-body-like mass impacted within the external auditory canal—clinically perceived as a “growth” inside the ear.

2. Frequent Ear Picking

Repeated ear picking can traumatize the delicate skin of the external auditory canal, creating microabrasions that predispose to bacterial or viral infection. This may trigger suppurative (pus-forming) inflammation and lead to the development of an auricular furuncle—a painful, localized abscess appearing as a “growth” in the ear.

3. “Excess Internal Heat”

Poor dietary habits—such as frequent consumption of spicy or irritating foods—combined with chronic stress, insufficient sleep, and lifestyle-related imbalances may exacerbate sebaceous gland activity in the ear canal. This overactivity can promote cyst formation, clinically manifesting as a “growth” inside the ear.